KU admissions overview

For your application to the online master’s in sport management program, you will need to submit an official transcript from every college or university you have attended, even if a degree was not ultimately earned.

Transcripts are only considered to be official if they arrive in a sealed envelope from the college or university, so you should request the university to send your transcript to the University of Kansas directly.

Any submitted transcript that has been issued directly to the student will only be accepted if the envelope is unopened—once the envelope seal has been broken by someone other than a KU employee, the transcript becomes unofficial. Although unofficial transcripts may be submitted for initial review in the admissions process, your admission will be considered provisional until the official transcript is obtained and verified. Official transcripts are required prior to the 2nd semester. An enrollment hold is placed on students who do not have official transcripts on file and they won’t be able to enroll for their second semester.

Your official transcript should be sent to:

KU Visitor Center
Graduate Admissions
1502 Iowa St.
Lawrence, KS 66045

Your letters of recommendation represent a vital part of your application and can help you create the strongest possible application for the admissions committee.

When it comes time to selecting the two references you want to write your letters, strive to provide one letter from a current or former supervisor, as they can speak to your business acumen combined with your personal traits and characteristics that will help make you successful.

If you can’t think of a supervisor to use as a reference, don’t worry—academic references also make strong letters of recommendation as well. Letters of recommendation from family, friends or other non-professional or non-academic references will not be accepted.

Because the application is online, your letters of recommendation are collected and stored via the online application system. Your references will receive an emailed link with instructions to complete and submit their recommendation and survey, so they don’t have to worry about postage and you don’t have to worry about anything getting lost in the mail.

The purpose of your personal statement is simple—show the online admissions committee that you have clearly thought about how this degree will fit into your future career plans, helping you to reach your goals in the long run.

Remember, it’s a personal statement. Focus on your life experiences and your enthusiasm for sports and the industry. This is what you love—make sure your writing shows that. Convey your reasons for picking this program over the others and why you think studying sport management at KU will make the difference for you and your career.

Above all else, avoid resorting to filler. It's the quality, not the length, of your personal statement that matters.

In addition to the standard admissions materials, international applicants are also required to submit proof of English proficiency, if their native language is not English. This can be achieved through submitting your TOEFL or IELTS scores. You can review the KU English proficiency requirements here.

If you have any questions regarding the sport management admissions process for international students, please reach out to an admissions outreach advisor at 855-639-7799.

We take great pride in assisting those who have served our country and strive to ensure that our current service members and veteran students are well supported after enrollment.

If you’re currently a service member in any branch of our nation’s armed forces, or a veteran of any branch, you may also qualify for the Yellow Ribbon program. Because this program can cover up to the full amount of tuition, we encourage all of our students who are currently service members or are veterans to explore our Veterans Affairs page for more details and reach out to an admissions outreach advisor with any questions at 855-639-7799.